I haven't tried it but I would be interested to, if it could give more root lift! Could you give more specifics? (I had the old CG book but gave it away so I can't go back and find that) How much gel do you use? The same amount you use for regular styling? Do you use any styling products/more gel on top of that, or is that meant to be it?

Whaaa? I don't have the new book and haven't heard this idea before. Seems strange. Wouldn't the gel just rinse out since it is water soluble?
I'm interested to hear results from people who try it. I'll probably try it myself too.

i know it seems strange, wouldn't you be rinsing it out? maybe the gel just clings a little to the hair? i tend to struggle with flat top but easily can become poofy and triangular at the same time. the book doesn't specify how much gel to use, she just says add gel to your cleanser then you proceed with normal styling and adding more gel. i will try this tonight, hoping Morgan_adcock with enlighten us on the New CG book is out thread in Gen Disc. she's already tried it and says it works.

I think this kind of applies more to people who don't rinse out all their conditioner. But... If some gel residue gets deposited with the conditioner residue which is supposed to be deposited on the hair, then there's a chance it might work.

I read this in the new book also and was wondering if anyone has tried it. You are suppose to mix with sulfate free cleanser, rinse well, scrunch and sqeeze, then apply gel again for styling. I am hunting for a good holding gel without alcohol in it Right now for styling I am using HETMS mousse and SMU gel. The crunch scrunches out easily but I would like to be using some alcohol free gel instead and trying that with conditioner instead of the ones I am using. I do want to try it and see if it works!

I think this kind of applies more to people who don't rinse out all their conditioner. But... If some gel residue gets deposited with the conditioner residue which is supposed to be deposited on the hair, then there's a chance it might work.

Originally Posted by IAgirl

but LM suggests this for wavy girls in particular on Pg. 57 and she also says wavies should rinse out all their conditioner

Going to look at p. 57 (thanks for the page ref!). Yep, I marked that page before. And she does say that wavies need to rinse thoroughly, so I'm wrong.

Totally trying this tonight with stuff I know (or I hope) doesn't itch so I won't have to get out of bed at 1:30 AM to wash my hair.Added after trying this
I'm not really impressed. I didn't style my hair right after doing this, but I didn't really see much difference. Something is missing from those instructions -- how much gel? Do you rinse this out completely?
I think you'd get the right result from supersoaking or even just applying products to quite wet hair, it seems like the ultimate goal is very evenly distributed product.
Gel going down the drain is not my idea of economic sensibility.

IAgirl you are so sensible. I actually did try this last night but forgot to mix it into my conditioner. I layered it on top of my conditioner and worked it in. Then rinsed it all out and proceeded with styling. After my plop I did see a difference in the waves holding and I got more definition. I used quite a lot of gel though, it was a cheap gel that's been going unused anyway a good Qtr size. I will try a 2nd time and see if I get good results or if it's a fluke.

We need some more guinea pigs to try this out. Maybe a firmer holding gel is needed? I used Got2B which is supposed to be hard hold.

Wavysue, I think your method is better than mixing gel with conditioner. When mixed with conditioner, gel made my hair feel tangly because the conditioner was diluted.
I'm thinking, why not just gel the heck out of really wet hair (cheap gel would be ideal!), rinse just enough to get it spread around really well (a quick shot of water) and then scrunch, scrunch, scrunch? You'd get awesome product distribution and wouldn't be washing so much down the drain.

HEY YOU wavy-wurly GUINEA PIGS!!! We need more technique-testers!

And then I'm thinking, if one sold hair gel, recommending that people apply it and then rinse it down the drain -- what a way to sell more gel. I'm so cynical.

I was mixing a small amount of gel (that super cheap LA Looks extreme hold stuff) with Suave Naturals conditioner and finger combing it through wet hair after I get out of the shower, then scrunching.
I think it helps me distribute the gel more evenly without putting in too much... Also had some success with putting gel in soaking wet hair, combing it through, then squeezing out the excess water before adding my leave-in conditioner.
I think wavysue is probably right that this worked for me because I'm using a super hard hold gel

I was mixing a small amount of gel (that super cheap LA Looks extreme hold stuff) with Suave Naturals conditioner and finger combing it through wet hair after I get out of the shower, then scrunching.
I think it helps me distribute the gel more evenly without putting in too much... Also had some success with putting gel in soaking wet hair, combing it through, then squeezing out the excess water before adding my leave-in conditioner.
I think wavysue is probably right that this worked for me because I'm using a super hard hold gel

Originally Posted by bedhead

bedhead sounds like you're making your own curl cream

I wonder if wavies changed the order we do things if it wouldn't make a difference. What if we did Gel/LI/Gel? Instead of LI/Gel??

Del, you're right! It's amazing how much a little change in technique could change bad hair into amazing hair!

I've never attempted the gel with the cleanser thing that was suggested in the new CG book, because I personally thought it sounded kinda...weird! I guess it just weirded me out because I never thought about it before, but once I get past the gross factor, I might turn out to be one of your guinea pigs! Ha ha! I don't know if the gel would affect my sensitive scalp, though, so I probably won't be attempting it. But, it was a fun thought. I would be willing to do it Wavysue's way, though. It does sound like applying the gel after conditioning might seal in some of the moisture, give more hold, and enhance waves a little more. Oh no, I'm feeling the urge to experiment more!

Del, you're right! It's amazing how much a little change in technique could change bad hair into amazing hair!

I've never attempted the gel with the cleanser thing that was suggested in the new CG book, because I personally thought it sounded kinda...weird! I guess it just weirded me out because I never thought about it before, but once I get past the gross factor, I might turn out to be one of your guinea pigs! Ha ha! I don't know if the gel would affect my sensitive scalp, though, so I probably won't be attempting it. But, it was a fun thought. I would be willing to do it Wavysue's way, though. It does sound like applying the gel after conditioning might seal in some of the moisture, give more hold, and enhance waves a little more. Oh no, I'm feeling the urge to experiment more!

Originally Posted by wavynwild16

I'm having a hard time wrapping my waves around the idea of mixing gel with co-wash and rinsing it out out. I guess I'm also too sensible like IAgirl But, taking into consideration that gel evaporates faster in the colder months I am willing to try Gel/LI/Gel but maybe a quick rinse in between? I don't like feeling producty and like you I've been preferring 2nd day vs 1st day this Winter.

I just did this, just because I was curious. I mixed in my palm the usual quarter size amount of Alaffia Shea and Coconut shampoo with a quarter size of Dep sport texture gel. My hair felt more slippery as I washed it, and I could see clumps and curls forming as I worked it in. Rinsed well as usual, hair felt clean and I had nice clumps. Worked in a dime size of Alaffia hair lotion and a nickel's worth oF LA looks Cashmere Curls. Scrunched with polarfleece gloves, clipped a little in front and sat under the dryer. My hair dried faster than usual.Clumping, curl, root lift, frizz factor, etc. are pretty usual. I can't tell if it looks any different!

Del, you're right! It's amazing how much a little change in technique could change bad hair into amazing hair!

I've never attempted the gel with the cleanser thing that was suggested in the new CG book, because I personally thought it sounded kinda...weird! I guess it just weirded me out because I never thought about it before, but once I get past the gross factor, I might turn out to be one of your guinea pigs! Ha ha! I don't know if the gel would affect my sensitive scalp, though, so I probably won't be attempting it. But, it was a fun thought. I would be willing to do it Wavysue's way, though. It does sound like applying the gel after conditioning might seal in some of the moisture, give more hold, and enhance waves a little more. Oh no, I'm feeling the urge to experiment more!

Originally Posted by wavynwild16

I'm having a hard time wrapping my waves around the idea of mixing gel with co-wash and rinsing it out out. I guess I'm also too sensible like IAgirl But, taking into consideration that gel evaporates faster in the colder months I am willing to try Gel/LI/Gel but maybe a quick rinse in between? I don't like feeling producty and like you I've been preferring 2nd day vs 1st day this Winter.

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Yeah, I don't like wasting gel, either!! No sense in putting it in if it gets washed right down the drain. Gel/LI/gel might be an interesting idea. I always liked the idea of gel AFTER a LI because it sounds like a good way to seal in moisture.

YAY!!!! Someone else who likes 2nd day hair!!! WOO HOO! We should form a club or something. I don't see many people who like 2nd day hair. My first day hair is actually pretty horrifying at best! It never looks right! I love you right now, Del! Rock on, better-2nd-day-hair curlies!

I love your hair, Crwritt! Beautiful clumps. If that's the usual, you have some rockin' curls on a daily basis!

Well I was feeling rather confused in the shower tonight...I didn't feel like trying Gel/LI/Gel maybe in the Summer that could work but knowing my hair and it's moisture needs in Winter, I didn't want to do that yet. So what I did was after washing my scalp/crown area I added conditioner to my length let it sit for a few mins. Took about a 1/2 dollar amt of gel and squished it through then rinsed lightly while keeping it scrunched like the CG books instructs for wavies. Then I added my LI/KCCC plopped and added BRHG. This seemed to work nicely I got more clumping, definition and I don't feel producty. We'll see how DAY 2 goes.I had 3/4 of a bottle of Got2B handy which has been sitting around for months as a decoration under my sink. It's relatively inexpensive so I'd be willing to keep doing this if the results continue. I would NEVER use my precious BRHG

Del, you're right! It's amazing how much a little change in technique could change bad hair into amazing hair!

I've never attempted the gel with the cleanser thing that was suggested in the new CG book, because I personally thought it sounded kinda...weird! I guess it just weirded me out because I never thought about it before, but once I get past the gross factor, I might turn out to be one of your guinea pigs! Ha ha! I don't know if the gel would affect my sensitive scalp, though, so I probably won't be attempting it. But, it was a fun thought. I would be willing to do it Wavysue's way, though. It does sound like applying the gel after conditioning might seal in some of the moisture, give more hold, and enhance waves a little more. Oh no, I'm feeling the urge to experiment more!

Originally Posted by wavynwild16

I'm having a hard time wrapping my waves around the idea of mixing gel with co-wash and rinsing it out out. I guess I'm also too sensible like IAgirl But, taking into consideration that gel evaporates faster in the colder months I am willing to try Gel/LI/Gel but maybe a quick rinse in between? I don't like feeling producty and like you I've been preferring 2nd day vs 1st day this Winter.

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Yeah, I don't like wasting gel, either!! No sense in putting it in if it gets washed right down the drain. Gel/LI/gel might be an interesting idea. I always liked the idea of gel AFTER a LI because it sounds like a good way to seal in moisture.

YAY!!!! Someone else who likes 2nd day hair!!! WOO HOO! We should form a club or something. I don't see many people who like 2nd day hair. My first day hair is actually pretty horrifying at best! It never looks right! I love you right now, Del! Rock on, better-2nd-day-hair curlies!

I love your hair, Crwritt! Beautiful clumps. If that's the usual, you have some rockin' curls on a daily basis!

Originally Posted by wavynwild16

I like my second day hair enough to wear it pretty often. It never looks as good as freshly cowashed and dried, though. I want to add something to my assessment of the conditioner-gel wash. My hair feels like it has more hold. There is literally no frizz. The front of my hair looks better than usual.I think
everyone should give it a try once anyway, with some cheap gel, maybe some you bought a giant bottle of and didn't really like.
You only need a handful to the most, mix it in your hand with you co wash and see what you think. It seems silly, but it does add some nice slip and you may see a difference in your curls.